Vulcanizer



April 26, 1932. C; HUDSQN ET AL 1,855,633

VULCANIZER Fied Nov. 5, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 1 AToRNEYs.

2 Sheets-*Sheet April 26, 1932. c. s. HUDSON ET AL VULQANIZER Filed Nov. 5, 1927 2-2 of Figure 1;

Patented Apr. Z6, 1932 UNIT raras CHARLES B. HUlDSON, 0F AKRON,'AND HNRY BOSTXVICVK, OF K ENMORE, OHIO, AS-

sierlvoias To THE AKRON STANDARD M RATION OF OHIO n VULCANIZER j Applicationfiled November 5', 1927. Serial No. 231,247.

This invention relates to vulcanizers, such n 1i is provided a central stationary mold member which is flanked by two lswinging mold members, means being provided to lock the movable members against the stationary member during the vulca'nizing operation, all vof said members being provided with steam chambers. j y

One object of the invention is to securea better locking arrangement than heretofore obtained, combining a rotating locking and clamping ring with a centrally located cam locking device so that as the mold sections are locked about their outer peripheries by the rotating locking ring, they are also locked at the interior of the vulcanizer. Another obj ect is to improve upon the means fo'rheat-V ing the mold sections, eliminating the objectionable exterior piping heretofore used in this type of equipment. Other objects of the invention are .to improve upon various automatic features of this type of vulcanizer, and to provide safety devices which will prevent accidental injury to the operator.

These and other objects andadvantages will be accomplished bythe improvements shown, describedandclaimed herein, it being understoodV that exact conformity vwith the details of the invention is notnecessarybut changes and modifications may be made in specific embodiments-of the. invention.' e It will also be understood that the invention, in certain'aspects, is not limited to the ,vertical watch case vulcanizer, but may be incorporated in other types of vulcanizer.,V

In the drawings in which the preferred form of the invention is shown, i Y f Figure 1 is a side elevation o'f acomplete unit comprising all of the features of. the invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontalsection on the line Figure 3 is an end or edge view of the apparatus;

Figure of the locking 4 is an enlarged view of a detail ringv showingthe mold sec-V Ations in opencondition; v Y` locked position of the. parts;

OLDl COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPO- Figure 5 is asimilar view showing their VFigure 6 is a detail ,of the.throttlevvalvey in the ring operating line;

Figure k7 is aplan thereof; and

Figure 8 is arsection on the line 8-#8 of `Figure 6. f Y The watch case vulcanizer comprises the usual standard or base plate 1, upon the upper surface of which is secured the central stationary7 moldmember 2, which is internally chambered as at 3, for the circulationof steam, the sides of thechamber being closed by .removable and replaceable plates 5v having molding cavities 6 formed therein'.r Each Y of these plates constitutes one sectionor side of a molding cavity,'molds lbeing here shown as designed for the vulcanization of a pneumatic tire, although the shape of the cavity may be alteredr for the moldingof tubes or `other articles.` `The tire is shown at 8,'mount- .ed upon the usual curing ring 9 and having an air bag or expansible core l0 therein. The

moldingcavities are enclosed bythe swinging or movable mold members12 whichare valso chambered, being closed in Aby removable plates -13 similar tothe plates 5. These movable mold. members ,are carried upon brackets 15 which are secured to vertical pinktles or hinge pinsl, which are mounted for rotation inrarms or bracketsfl'? extending Ifrom the central or stationarymember.

In' order to introduce steam in the vulcan#` izer economically and without excessive piping, the ysteam is conducted from a stationary 'supply pipe 20, preferablylocated over head, f

'provided with branches`23, each kof which passes through `astuliing VboXQ/` secured to the upper end ofthehinge pin 16. A rigid -hollow arm 22 extends from the stuffing box` to the uppermost point in the swinging member where the steam, is admitted to the. rear of the plate thelouter sidek of the plate Vbeingy chambered atv 24 for .the purpose of insulating the movable mold member.y To admit steam to the central or stationary mold member the hingefpin' is provided with a vertical passageway `25` which communicates at its lower end'with a horizontal passage' 26 in the bracket 17, and thence to the chamber 3.

Steam passes out of the movable mold members through the pipe 30, which is rigidly attached to the lower side of the movable By the design --of :the parts as illustrated and described, the multiplicity of piping heretofore found necessary is greatly ren duced,thereby simplifying and lessening the cost ofv the equipment, and lessening the vlabor or. installation and maintenance, the

only steam piping requiredtobe done in installing the device being the connections for the steam inlet and outlet.

As'the movable mold sections are brought intoV contact with the' stationary sections they are guided and accurately centered'by means of lugs 4() projecting from the lower side of the swinging members and adapted to ride upon rigid arms or positioning Vmembers 41 projecting from the stationary members.

vEach movable section is designed to be locked'against the stationary section by means of a rotating locking and clamping'ring 45 which is rotatably mounted' upon a rib 46 formed in the stationary section, this ring having a plurality of equally spaced arms 47, vthe inner surfaces of which are provided with -taperedwearingvplates 48. These plates are adapted to,..be brought into: registration with -and to ride upon'corresponding tapered wear` ing surfaces 49 inlugs 50 projectingfrom the .swinging .mold members. As the ring is ro tatedinI one direction the mold will be locked :about its #outer periphery, and as itis rotated inthe ,opposite direction until the lugs are outr of registration, it will be unlocked.

Theclampinglring is provided `with a single elongating camV or drawing lug 55 which is located at a point opposite, the hinge ofthe mold, whichris designed to engage a cam sur'- faceu56 on Vone'ofthe lugs and effect a, preliminary closingofthe mold'. This also serves tojvrimnup thetires'on theY clamping rings, Y which for this purpose vmay be attached to themold sections rather than Vconnected to- Vfgether as shown in Figure 2. On the opening'movement of the clamping ring the mold is cracked, to breaklthe adhesionbetlween the two mold sections and is then partiallyy opened by a combined'breakin-g and opening lug58 in the locking ring Vadapted to'engage a lug its upper end to Van ear 67 in the locking ring.

Itri addition tothe functions which have already been described, the locking ring serves as. a means for clamping the mold sections together at the center or about the inner circu-mference thereof. This operation will now be described. At the center of the vulcanizer are located two oppositely positioned bracketsY ory plates 7 0 at, opposite ends. of which are formed inwardly projecting fingers or lugs 71'. Mounted at the center of eachmovable section isa bearing member 73 in which is mounted a rotating shaft 74, the inner end of: each shaft having secured thereto. a cross head7 5, the arms 76 of which are adaptedA to pass between the brackets 70 and to be moved into registration therewith, being provided with replaceable wearing plates 78, the engaging surfaces of thel arms and the brackets being tapered or wedge shaped: to effect the requisite drawingaotion. The shafts 74v are held in position by adjustable collars 8O and arel keyed at their outer ends to `levers 82,

each of which projects over the face of the, movable mold section and extends to the outer periphery thereof, beingheld in place by a guidevr plate 85 secured'V to the face ofthe movable member, and by a nut 86 on its shaft, which. affords. ameans of adjusting the cross head relative to the brackets. A stop pin 87 limits the movement of the lever 82 in the .unlocked position.

At its outer endeach lever isprovided with a socket 88, theinner end of which is flared slightly4 and is adapted tolbe entered Yby a pin A 90. secured to the clamping ring. As the movable mold section v,is closedlbythe gears59 and andV by the drawing lug 55, the pint-)0 entering the socket 88 and as the ring con- .tinuesitsiclosingmovement tolock the outer periphery-of theVV mold, by thewedging of the lugs 47v and 50 the ends of thel cross head engage the ends Yof the brackets and exertv shaft and litscross head exerts .a powerful locking pressure atthefcenter:ofv the mold,

thereby preventing any springing of the mold about the inner surface thereof. On the reverse movement the mold is unlocked on its inner and outer peripheries, cracked, and moved to its final full open position. a In addition to the above functions, the locking ring serves also to reduce its own speed of rotation in the manner to be described.

It will be evident that considerable pres-Y sure is required to actuate the ring in the performance of its locking or clamping operation and its breaking operation, but that little pressure is required to move the ring beyond that point so that means are provided for throttling the fluid pressure whichoperates the piston 65. Fluid pressureis admitted to the upper and lower vends of the cylinders through pipes controlled by a hand operated valve 96 which communicates with the exhaust 97. Fluid pressure is admitted to the valve through a pipe 98 which is pivoted coaXially with the pivot 99 of the cylinder. This pipe is supplied through a valve casing 100 mounted in the base of the machine. The fluid under pressure (air or water) passes through the center of the casing, in the path of which is arranged the rotating pin 102, having a portion cut away as shown, and held in position by a backing spring 103 at the base of the casing;

The upper end of the pin is provided with a forked arm 105 adapted to be engaged by a pin 106 on the ring. As the ring moves the pin closes up the passageway to the cylinder, and the fluid pressure is lessened. In this manner, the rotation of the locking ring may be slowed up as the mold is unlocked, otherwise, the full pressure would move the ring too rapidly for safe operation. `The by-pass 109 with valve 110 provides for;V regulation of the pressure admitted to the cylinder around the throttle valve and by the combination of these elements the exact rate of movement of the locking ring can be accurately controlled.

In order to prevent accidental Voperation of the closing mechanism by the ylever 96, a swinging catch 112 is located in the path of pin 114 on4 the piston 65. To operatethe apparatus it is necessary for the operator to move both levers 96 and 112 simultaneously.`V

. peripheries.

The operation of the apparatusV will have been understood from the foregoing description, and the details thereof can be readily understood by one skilled in this art, it beingV observed that having explained the principles of its operation the invention may be embodied in other specifically diferent de` lever f fixed to the movable element of said vbayonetmeans, said lever and said clamping l 1 ring, having ,f interengaging \means thereon vices than that shown.

llVhat is claimed is: 1. A vulcanizer having a stationary section and a movable section, a rotating locking ring on the stationary section, acenter.

'locking ring and thecenter clampingdevice vto operate the locking ringband the center clamping Adevice in unison to exert pressure adapted to engage clamping lugs on the other means to engage the lever and tlieclamping ring.rv f

- 3. -Avulcanizerhaving relativelymovable i sections, `a clamping ring on one sectionV having lugs thereon adaptedto engagelugs on one of the otherl sections, a rotatable center shaftthrough the vulcanizer carried lby one section, clamping lugs on the center shaft adapted tol engage clamping lugs on the other section, and an operating lever fori'- the shaft, the lever lbeingfdisengaged from the ring when the vulcanizer is opened, but engaged therewith when'it is closed.

4. A vulcanizer comprising a pair ofrelatively movable moldsections, a locking ring` about -tlie sections, a pressure cylinder to operate the` ring, a piston rod connecting the cylin'derand the ring, and a safety catchin the path ofthe piston rod. f

5. A circularmold having relatively the mold and bayonet means `to'clamp vthe' sections together at thecenter thereof, each of said bayonet means including movable saidelements being separable/,as vthe mold isLt opened, and` means 'for moving-one of saidr Q movable sections, bayonetmeans to clampthesec- `tions together about vtherohuter peripher-y` of Y y c having lugs thereon adapted to engage lugs 575 on one of the yother sections, a rotatable center shaft through the vulcanizer carriedby one Y section, clampinglugson the centerxshaft section, an operating leverxfor the shaft, and7"9 bayonet members tothelockingposit'ion c wherebysaid connecting means` simultane- `ouslyl moves the otherfof lsaid'bayonet mem-` vbersftoloclring position to Vtightly clamp the mold sections,` together at their centers-and by the clampingring, axial bayonet clamping-means including a movable element,a

adapted to diseng'age when the movable section is moved to. openthe mold and to re-engage: upon closing of themold, and means for 6. In `a mold ofthetype described, ansta-Y moving'the clamping" ringto: lock the oute 713 l'portions of the sections togetherwhereby' the axial. bayonet meanssimultaneously clamp v the center portions thereof together.

' V7. .In amold of the type described, a sta- Y ,--t'ionaryf section, a clamping ring movable vabout the stationary section, a movable section having portions thereof to bev engaged Y bythe' clamping ring, axial bayonet clamping means including a movable element, a lever fixed to the movable element of said bayonet means,.said lever having means thereon en-V gagingfvvhen. thek mold is closed with said i `clamping; ringand Vadapted to disengage v therefrom] When the mold is opened, and .means for moving the clamping ring to lock ithe, outer portions of the sections-together whereby the axial bayonet means simultaneously clamprthe center portions thereof together.

' tiony and a movable section, bayonet means Vfor'clamping the outer peripheries of said 'sections together, bayonet means for olamping the inner peripheries of said sections toff 8. Avulcanizer having a stationary secgether, each of said bayonet means including a movable element, means for locking the movable elements for-'said bayonet clamping means together when the mold sections are r closed, said means including interengaging Amembers separable When the vulcanizer is opened, and means for-moving said looked Y bayonet elements to simultaneously clamp the inner and outer peripheriesf of said sections together.v y Y i 1 9'. A vulcanizer having a stationary'sec- Y tion and a movable section, bayonet means for clamping therouter peripheries of said seok:tions together, bayonet means Yfor clamping the inner peripheri'es of saidseotions together,

-eachof said bayonet meansr including a mov- 1 able member,`means for lockingthe movable j elements of said bayonet clamping means together v v vhen the mold sections are closed, said means comprising a'central shaft on the Imovable element of the inner bayonet means, aA radial lever iXed to'saidshaft, a stud on f 1 y the `movable element of -the Vouter bayonet meansadapted to engage in a recess in said Y simultaneously clamp the inner and outer v lever,said stud being removed from 'said re- 'cess by opening of the vulcanlzer, and means for moving' saidflocked bayonet elements to peripheriesV of said sections together. 1

10;' A vulcanizer having a stationary section and a movable section, a rotating locking ring about the vulcanizer` adapted to clamp the outside of saidV sections together, bayonet 'means to clamp the center of these'otions together, fluid pressure means to lock` the locking' ring and the center bayonet means simultaneously, and 'additional' means operatedbyY the movementof said looking ring to control the fluid Vpassed to the fluid pressure means.`

Y y oHARLEs-,nfHUDsom di HENRY@ SBOSTWICK Y f' 

